Pipe dryer and odorizer

ABSTRACT

A device for drying and odorizing smoking pipes including a housing, a pipe support on the housing, an air flow nozzle extending from the housing to direct air into an inverted pipe bowl in the support, a blower in the housing to direct air into the drying nozzle, an electrical resistance heater for heating air directed from the blower to the nozzle, and a wick for odorizing air drawn into the housing by the blower.

United States Patent 1191 Gavlick, Sr.

[ Jan. 22, 1974 PIPE DRYER AND ODORIZER [76] Inventor: John R. Gavlick,Sr., 780

Emberwood, Dallas, Tex. 75232 [22] Filed: May 17, 1972 [21] Appl. No.:254,168

[521 US. Cl 34/104, 34/239, 131/172, 211/60 M 51 1111. c1. F26b 25/00[58] Field of Search 34/104, 236, 239, 202; 131/172, 186, 244, 259;211/60 M, 60 R [561' References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,809,44110/1957 Wasserlein 34/104 2,447,084 8/1948 Moore 34/104 Adamy 34/104Keller 34/ 104 Bellinghieri 131/172 Primary Examiner1(enneth W. SpragueAssistant Examiner.larr1es C. Yeung Attorney, Agent, or Firm1-I. MathewsGarland [5 7] ABSTRACT A device for drying and odorizing smoking pipesincluding a housing, a pipe support on the housing, an air flow nozzleextending from the housing to direct air into an inverted pipe bowl inthe support, a blower in the housing to direct air into the dryingnozzle, an electrical resistance heater for heating air directed fromthe blower to the nozzle, and a wick for odorizing air drawn into thehousing by the blower.

6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PIPE DRYER AND ODORIZER This inventionrelates to devices for servicing smoking pipes, and, more particularlyrelates to a pipe drying and odorizing device.

Smoking pipes which consist of a bowl having a tobacco holding chamberand an air conducting stem including a mouthpiece develop objectionableodors and moisture conditions if not cleaned, dried, and odorized atregular intervals depending, of course, upon the extent to which thepipe is smoked. The pipe bowl accumulates layers of burned tobacco whichcakes on the inner surfaces of the bowl and will, if not periodicallycleaned, interfere with the effective use of the pipe. Variousby-products of the smoking process, brought about by the user drawingair through the pipe, the collection of moisture in the pipe bowl andalong the stem, both from the atmosphere and from the mouth of the user,produces a damp, paste-like mixture which not only has an objectionableodor and taste, but also, if not periodically removed, will eventuallyplug the pipe. Also, there is substantial evidence to indicate thatpossibly the reaction product of the smoking process in a pipe is abasic cause for cancer in the throat and on the lips and tongue of heavypipe smokers. It is believed that this condition can be minimized bykeeping a pipe clean and dry so that the by-products of burning thetobacco in the pipe bowl and the stem will not reach the surface areasof the mouth or throat of the smoker. At least, it is believed thatthere is less chance of development of cancer on the part of the userwith regular maintainance of the pipe to minimize the collection of thesemi-fluid or paste-like matter which normally develops in the stem andinto the mouthpiece of a heavily used pipe.

While some approaches have been made to solving the problem ofeffectively drying and odorizing smoking pipes, presently availableapparatus is not capable of performing the operation, is not compact,and is generally not sufficiently flexible to accommodate a wide varietyof pipe designs and sizes.

In accordance with the invention, there is provided a pipe drying andodorizing device which includes a pipe support mounted on a housingenclosing a blower, an odorizing unit, and a heating element, and havingan air nozzle for directing heated, odorized air into the bowl of a pipein the support on the housing. The support for the pipe is adjustable toaccommodate pipes of varying sizes and shapes.

It is, therefore, a principal object of the invention to provide a newand improved device for drying and odorizing smoking pipes. It isanother object of the invention to provide a device of the characterdescribed which is useful with pipes of varying shapes and sizes. It isa still further object of the invention to provide a pipe drying devicewhich has a simple, compact, and economically constructed housingpresenting a pleasing functional appearance. It is a still furtherobject of the invention to provide a device of the character describedwhich includes a pipe drying air nozzle which is adjustable 'for varyingthe direction of flow of heated, odorized air into the bowl of the pipe.It is a still further object of the invention to provide a device of thecharacter described which includes an electrical resistance heater forheating air within the housing of the device and an air odorizing unitfor providing a pleasant odor in the air directed through the deviceinto a pipe.

The objects and advantages of the invention will be more clearlyunderstood from the following detailed description of a preferredembodiment of a pipe drying and odorizing device constructed inaccordance with the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pipe drying and odorizing deviceembodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view in section along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1 showingparticularly the internal structure of the pipe drying and odorizingdevice;

FIG. 3 is a view in section and elevation taken generally along the line3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view in elevation and section showingthe fork part of the pipe support of the pipe drying and odorizingdevice; and

FIG. 5 is a substantially enlarged fragmentary view taken generallyalong the line 55 of one prong of the pipe support fork of the device.

Referring to the drawings, a pipe drying and odorizing deviceconstructed in accordance with the invention has a housing 11 comprisinga base portion 12 of generally rectangular box shaped construction and aremovable top 13 which includes downwardly bent end and side flangeswhich tightly grip the base 12 for holding the top on the base asparticularly evident in FIGS. 1 and 2. The base bottom 12a has rubber orplastic removable feet 14 each of which is secured to the bottom througha hole 15 in the bottom. An air intake port is provided in an end panel12b of the base by a flanged fitting 21 secured through an opening 22 inthe end panel.

A smoking pipe 23 having a bowl 24, a stem 25, and a mouthpiece 30, issupported on the top 13 of the housing 11 by an adjustable fork 31 and acradle shaped fitting 32 which are secured as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 inspaced relation generally along the longitudinal center line of thehousing top 13. A pipe bowl drying well 33 is formed within the base 12by a plate 34 defining the well bottom and extending across the basebetween the sides 12c and 12d as particularly evident in FIGS. 2 and 3and connecting with a vertically disposed cross piece or divider 35extending between the base sides and downwardly a portion of the depthof the base. A rectangular opening in the top 13 provides access intothe well 33. An adjustable air nozzle 41 is fitted around a base endflange 41a of the nozzle 41a in an annular flanged fitting 42 securedthrough the bottom 34 of the well 33 for directing air from the interiorof the housing upwardly into the bowl 24 of the pipe. As seen in FIGS. 2and 3, the annular shape of the base 41a and the corresponding shape ofthe fitting 42 provides a universal-joint type coupling of the nozzle 41with the well bottom 34 so that the nozzle is movable to a limiteddegree for changing its position relative to a pipe bowl.

The pipe support fork 31 has a pair of upwardly projecting inwardlycurved tines which are threaded along lower portions 51 as particularlyillustrated in FIG. 5 and connect at base ends with a section 52 whichis secured by a bolt and nut assembly 53 to the top end portion of avertical rod 54. An internally threaded nut 55 provided with an externalknurled surface is disposed on the fork tines around the threaded lowerend portions of the tines for adjusting the space between the tines asillustrated in FIG. 4 for gripping the stem 25 of the pipe. The nut 55is rotated upwardly on the tines for squeezing the tines toward eachother as represented by the broken line showing of the nut and tines inFIG. 4. Additionally, of course, the tines and the section 52 of thetines may be adjusted relative to the fork support rod 54. The rod 54 isslideably disposed through a cylindrical split gripping member 55 whichis externally threaded and on which is secured a nut 60 which istightened and loosened for adjusting the grip between the member 55 andthe support rod 54 so that the height of the rod relative to the top 13may be adjusted for different pipes. A universal-joint type connectionbetween the supporting fork rod 54 and the top 13 is provided by anannular ring 61 secured with the gripping member 55 and disposed withina ring fitting 62 secured through the top 13 so that the support rod 54may be adjusted to a limited degree to angular positions relative to thevertical by virtue of the relationship between the ring 61 and thefitting 62.

The cradle 32 is secured by a nut 63 with the top 13 to support themouthpiece 30 of a pipe 23. The various adjustments which may be made inthe fork 31 by its connection through the top 13 and the joint in thefork at the nut and bolt assembly 53 permits practically infiniteadjustment of the fork to varying positions while the fork tines 50 maybe adjusted to various spacings for gripping various sized pipe stems.The various positions to which the fork may be moved permit maximumadvantage to be taken of the air flow directed through the nozzle 41into a pipe bowl. The vertical adjustment permitted in the fork allowsthe pipe to be lowered so that the pipe bowl may be supported at aposition at which it may extend into the well 33 if it is desired toinsert the nozzle 41 into the bowl chamber of a pipe.

Within the base 12 of the housing, a blower comprising a fan 70 mountedon a shaft 71 of a motor 72 is mounted on spaced feet 73 secured on thebottom panel 12a of the housing base. An electrical resistance heatingelement 74 is supported on a pair of spaced feet 75 mounted on thebottom panel of the housing base below the air nozzle 41. The heatingunit includes electrical resistance wire 80 wound around an insulatingheat-resistant plate 81. The heating element resistance wire is suitablyconnected by leads 82 and 83 in a series arrangement with the motor 72which is connected through the lead 84 to a toggle switch 85 mounted inthe end panel 12b of the housing base. The lead 83 along with a lead 90from the switch are connected through suitable insulation 91 forming acord 92 extending through an insulator 93 in a side panel of the basehousing. The other end of the cord is provided with a male fitting orplug, not shown, for connection of the unit to a suitable power supplysuch as a normal convenience outlet. By the series connection betweenthe motor 72 and the heating element 74, the heating element is turnedon at all times when the fan 70 is being turned by the motor 72. Theunit may, of course, be kept connected with a power supply with controlof the motor and heating element being effected by the switch 85.

A removable mounting plug 100 is secured through a hole 101 in thehousing end 12a above the air inlet fitting 22. A cone-shaped spring 102is fitted on the plug 100 within the housing supporting a wick or jacket103 stretched over the spring and formed of an absorbant material whichcan be saturated with an odorizing fluid for providing a desired odor inthe air moved through the housing for drying the pipe bowl. Access tothe wick 103 is had by removing the housing top 13 so that the wick maybe saturated with the odorizer.

The pipe drying and odorizing unit 10 provides a completelyself-contained device for thoroughly drying and odorizing a smokingpipe. A pipe, such as the pipe 23, is placed in an inverted positionwith the stem of the pipe 25 between the tines of the supporting fork31. Prior to placing the pipe stem in the fork, the nut is rotateddownwardly to allow the outwardly sprung fork tines to spreadsufficiently to insert the pipe stem fully between the tines. Themouthpiece 30 of the pipe is rested in the cradle 32. The nut 55 isthreaded upwardly on the portions 51 of the tines squeezing the tinestogether to tightly grip the pipe stem. The height of the fork relativeto the top 13 of the housing is adjusted by rotation of the nut whilethe vertical position or alignment of the fork may be adjusted by thenut 53 so that the upper portion of the fork is set relative to thesupporting rod 54. The various fork adjustments together with anadjustment in the direction of the air nozzle 41 are made to providemaximum control of the air flow from the nozzle into the pipe bowl. Thepipe bowl may be lowered into the well 33 of the housing if desired andnecessary to achieve optimum air circulation into the bowl. When thepipe is thus properly adjusted and securely mounted on the drying andodorizing device, the electric cord is plugged into a convenience outletand the switch 85 is turned to an on position. The fan is rotated by themotor 72 as the electrical resistance heater 74 is turned on to heat theair which is forced over the heater by the fan. The air is drawn intothe interior of the housing through the fitting 22 generally along thelines indicated by the arrows in FIG. 2. At least a portion of the airpasses over the odorizing wick 103 and, due to the relatively smallvolume of the housing and the use of a readily vaporizeable odorizer inthe wick, the housing is substantially saturated with odorizing mist sothat the air being driven through the housing by the fan will bestrongly odorized. The only outlet from the housing is through thenozzle 41, so the heated, odorized air is discharged from the housingthrough the nozzle 41 into the bowl of the pipe. The air passes throughthe bowl of the pipe down the stem and out the mouthpiece thoroughlydrying and odorizing the pipe bowl and stem interior. Preferably, ofcourse, before the pipe is placed in the drying and odorizing device agreat deal of the tobacco crust and fluids and related foreign matterare removed from the bowl, stem and mouthpiece by suitable conventionalmeans such as a scraper and pipe-cleaners. The device then provides aclean, dry, and pleasantly fragrant pipe.

It will thus be seen that a new and improved device for both drying andodorizing smoking pipes has been described and illustrated. It will bereadily seen that the device may be applied with various types ofodorizing fluid to provide the desired fragrance in the pipe during thedrying procedure. It will additionally be seen that the device iscompact, attractive, and adjustable to accomodate a wide variety of pipesizes and shapes.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A device for drying a smoking pipe comprising: a housing including awell formed in an upper portion and near an end thereof opening upwardlytoward a bowl of a pipe supported on said device; adjustable pipesupport means on said housing to accommodate varying sizes and shapes ofsmoking pipes including a forked support member having tines extendingupwardly and spaced apart defining a Y-shaped structure for receiving astem of a smoking pipe, an adjusting nut around said tines for squeezingsaid tines together to grip said stem of said pipe, and universalconnection means between said housing and said forked member for varyingthe position of said forked member relative to said housing; an air flownozzle on said housing in said well for directing air from said housinginto the bowl of a pipe supported in said well on said support means;air inlet means in said housing; blower means in said housing fordrawing air through said inlet means into said housing and dischargingsaid air from said housing through said nozzle; and electricalresistance heating means in said housing between said blower means andsaid nozzle for heating said air discharged from said housing throughsaid nozzle.

2. A device in accordance with claim 1 including a cradle fittingsecured on said housing spaced from said forked member for supportingthe mouthpiece end of the stem of said pipe.

3. A device in accordance with claim 2 including an odorizing wickdisposed in said housing secured adjacent said inlet of said housing forholding an odorizing fluid to odorize air moving through said housing.

4. A device in accordance with claim 3 including electrical leadsconnecting said blower and said electrical resistance heater in seriesand connecting said blower and heater with a switch secured with saidhousing, and electrical cord means connected with said switch forconnecting said device with a suitable power source whereby said heateris actuated responsive to supplying power to said blower.

5. A device in accordance with claim 4 wherein said housing is asubstantially rectangular enclosure having a base portion and aremovable top portion and said pipe support fork and cradle are securedwith said removable top portion.

6. A smoking pipe drying and odorizing device comprising: asubstantially rectangular housing having a base portion provided with abottom panel and side and end panels and a removable top portion havingdownwardly turned side and end flanges fitting over said side and endpanels of said base portion and having an opening near an end thereof; apipe bowl well defined in said base portion of said housing and openingupwardly therefrom through said opening in said top portion including abottom panel secured across said housing base portion intermediate thebottom and top thereof between the side panels of said base portion andan end panel of said base portion and a vertical divider extendingacross said base portion between the sides thereof connected along alower edge with said well bottom panel; an air nozzle disposed inmovable relation through said bottom panel of said well adapted forlimited movement from a vertical position and having a flow passagetherethrough for directing air from said housing upwardly into the bowlof a pipe supported on said device; a pipe support fork secured on saidremovable top portion of said housing spaced from said opening in saidhousing communicating with said well including a vertical support rodmovably secured through said top portion having a joint therein abovesaid top portion and spaced apart tines extending upwardly forsupporting the stem of a smoking pipe therebetween, a nut rotatable onsaid tines for squeezing said tines together for gripping said pipestem; a cradle fitting secured on said top portion spaced from said forkfor supporting a mouthpiece of a pipe stem; an electrical resistanceheater secured within said base portion on the bottom panel thereofincluding electrical resistance wire wound on an insulating platesecured within said housing base below said air nozzle; a blowerincluding a motor and a fan supported on a shaft of said motor mountedin said base portion on said bottom panel spaced from said electricalresistance heater for blowing air across said heater to said dischargenozzle; a switch secured in an end panel of said housing base;electrical leads connected between said switch and said blower motor andheater connecting said motor and heater in series whereby said heater isactuated when said motor is turned on; means providing an air inlet intosaid base of said housing at an end of said housing spaced from saiddischarge nozzle on the opposite side of said fan from said nozzle foradmitting air to said housing base for blowing over said heater todischarge through said nozzle; and an odorizing fluid absorbing wickremovably secured in said housing from an end panel thereof adjacent tosaid air inlet means for holding an air odorizer for odorizing air insaid housing as said air is drawn into said housing through said inletmeans and discharged across said heater to said discharge nozzle.

1. A device for drying a smoking pipe comprising: a housing including awell formed in an upper portion and near an end thereof opening upwardlytoward a bowl of a pipe supported on said device; adjustable pipesupport means on said housing to accommodate varying sizes and shapes ofsmoking pipes including a forked support member having tines extendingupwardly and spaced apart defining a Y-shaped structure for receiving astem of a smoking pipe, an adjusting nut around said tines for squeezingsaid tines together to grip said stem of said pipe, and universalconnection means between said housing and said forked member for varyingthe position of said forked member relative to said housing; an air flownozzle on said housing in said well for directing air from said housinginto the bowl of a pipe supported in said well on said support means;air inlet means in said housing; blower means in said housing fordrawing air through said inlet means into said housing and dischargingsaid air from said housing through said nozzle; and electricalresistance heating means in said housing between said blower means andsaid nozzle for heating said air discharged from said housing throughsaid nozzle.
 2. A device in accordance with claim 1 including a cradlefitting secured on said housing spaced from said forked member forsupporting the mouthpiece end of the stem of said pipe.
 3. A device inaccordance with claim 2 including an odorizing wick disposed in saidhousing secured adjacent said inlet of said housing for holding anodorizing fluid to odorize air moving through said housing.
 4. A devicein accordance with claim 3 including electrical leads connecting saidblower and said electrical resistance heater in series and connectingsaid blower and heater with a switch secured with said housing, andelectrical cord means connected with said switch for connecting saiddevice with a suitable power source whereby said heater is actuatedresponsive to supplying power to said blower.
 5. A device in accordancewith claim 4 wherein said housing is a substantially rectangularenclosure having a base portion and a removable top portion and saidpipe support fork and cradle are secured with said removable topportion.
 6. A smoking pipe drying and odorizing device comprising: asubstantially rectangular housing having a base portion provided with abottom panel and side and end panels and a removable top portion havingdownwardly turned side and end flanges fitting over said side and endpanels of said base portion and having an opening near an end thereof; apipe bowl well defined in said base portion of said housing and openingupwardly therefrom through said opening in said top portion including abottom panel secured across said housing base portion intermediate thebottom and top thereof between the side panels of said base portion andan end panel of said base portion and a vertical divider extendingacross said base portion between the sides thereof connected along alower edge with said well bottom panel; an air nozzle disposed inmovable relation through said bottom panel of said well adapted forlimited movement from a vertical position and having a flow passagetherethrough for directing air from said housing upwardly into the bowlof a pipe supported on said device; a pipe support fork secured on saidremovable top portion of said housing spaced from said opening in saidhousing communicating with said well including a vertical support rodmovably secured through said top portion having a joint therein abovesaid top portion and spaced apart tines extending upwardly forsupporting the stem of a smoking pipe there-between, a nut rotatable onsaid tines for squeezing said tines together for gripping said pipestem; a cradle fitting secured on said top portion spaced from said forkfor supporting a mouthpiece of a pipe stem; an electrical resistanceheater secured within said base portion on the bottom panel thereofincluding electrical resistance wire wound on an insulating platesecured within said housing base below said air nozzle; a blowerincluding a motor and a fan supported on a shaft of said motor mountedin said base portion on said bottom panel spaced from said electricalresistance heater for blowing air across said heater to said dischargenozzle; a switch secured in an end panel of said housing base;electrical leads connected between said switch and said blower motor andheater connecting said motor and heater in series whereby said heater isactuated when said motor is turned on; means providing an air inlet intosaid base of said housing at an end of said housing spaced from saiddischarge nozzle on the opposite side of said fan from said nozzle foradmitting air to said housing base for blowing over said heater todischarge through said nozzle; and an odorizing fluid absorbing wickremovably secured in said housing from an end panel thereof adjacent tosaid air inlet means for holding an air odorizer for odorizing air insaid housing as said air is drawn into said housing through said inletmeans and discharged across said heater to said discharge nozzle.